The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-02
HONDURAS.
Its Resources, Its People and It's
Government,

Where is this country" I hear
many people ask who have not looked
at their geography for long time. SIS
it an island: Who inhabits itf Are
they csnnibsls3 What language do
they speak, What is the elimatef Is
it sicklyf What are the products of
the country Are the people educated
What are the mineral resources Of the
country and hundred more just
such questions.
Honduras is one of the Central
American States, and the longest dis
lance across the republic is from east TO
west. The Caribbean Sea is on the
north and the Pacific Ocean on the
south. and in consequence the trade
winds make the interior most delight.
full climate, the thermometer never get
ting above SIS degrees Fahrenheit, and
seluon bel " 80 degrees IN the shade.
The form of government is republican
he President is elected once in four
years, and can hold the Office Two terms
only. The Constitution of the United
States Of America was adopted almost
verbatim at the declaration of independ
enCe in 1921. The inhabitants are
mostly of spanish descent, and speak
the Spanish language. The cool nights
aud moderate tenn erature during the
day has a more eXnilaratlng effect upon
the people than has that of tn ir neigh
bors as far north as Arizona 1t is one
of the healtbiest places on the face OF
the earth. Recent statistics show more
persons over 10 years of age than in
any other country on the globe in pro-
portion to numbers. The desire of the
inhabitants to learn the English Ian
guage is something remarkable. Sixty
per cent of the women and 20 per cent
of the men can read and write, and now
every child must be sent to school be-
tween the ages of aud Is, or punish
neut is melted out to the mother or
guardian. The fruits of the country
are one Of it's princIpai products. The
banana, plantain, pineapple and cocoa
nut form a greater portion OF the ex-
ports. st this time not less than lift
teen vessels, both steam and sailing, are
engaged IN the trade. A plantatIOn can
make more murey for its owners selling
bananas at l2Hc per bunch of seven
hands than the same amount OF ground
can be planted in anything else. The
plautain is most delicious fruit, but
seldom ever reaches Chicago. All kinds
of small fruits and vegetables grow In
abundance, and with the smallest
amount of cultivation. On the top OF
the highest mountains, 7 600 feet above
the level of the sea, the most delicious
blsckberries can be gathered every day
IN the year. No snow or freezing
20 nd
black flies are not known in the interior :;
the nlmbIe flea and the gasapoto are
known to every one, but by the
simplest Of remedies they are soon for
gotten. The railroad facilities are very
limited. but negotiations are now in
progress whereby the coast at Puerto
Cortez will be connected with Awapela,
on the Pacific coast, by railroad,
thereby saving at least 1900 miles to
San Francisco over the present route
via Panama.
The capital of the republic is Teguci-
galpa, which is the Indian name for
"Sllver City" 1t is quite an appropri-
ate name, judging from the large
amount of bullion which is being, and
has been, shipped from this neignbor-
hood. The old Spanish miners were re-
ouired to pay as tribute to the Spanish
Government 20 per cent of the product,
and, from the reports, very large
amounts, running into the millions,
we're paid to King Philip II. The Rus
sian Mining Company of New YORK,
are now shipping $50 600 per month.
There are & great many other mines
which are being developed by American
companies, among them the San
Jawrcuta, the Zelaya. the Concordis
Gold Mining Company, the Boquin
Placer and Cattle Company, The La
Victoria Mining and Miling Company,
and others. The last named company
has seven finely developed mines, with
more than 1900 feet of ore in sighl-ore
WELDING upward of $500 PER ton, with q
large concession of about 25 600 acres of
land, fine wster-the only power used
and timber, iror, lead auO ME in the
concession. This company is Chicag o
organization and has some OF the best
men in Chicago interested in it.
One of the mining laws of Honduras
under which all companies must work
requires all nil es to be worked contin-
uously, aud if they are abandoned for
four consecutive months any che 20
may enter the same by announcement
During a recent visit of the Vice Presi-
dent OF the ret ublic to the United States